Starting in Cusco, you'll cycle into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, hike the Huchuy Qosqo Trail, visit Pisac market, and spend a full morning exploring the famous citadel of Machu Picchu, including a chance to hike to the Sun Gate. Your local guides will be with you every step of way sharing their insights and knowlege, to make this a truly life-changing adventure.
Start - End: Cusco - Cusco
Total trip: 6 days
Average group size: 12 people
Level: 2
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There's no doubt you'll be mind blown by the contrasting landscapes, from the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu to the crystal clear water of Isabela Island, on our 13-day Ultimate Machu Picchu & Galapagos Islands Adventure.
Starting in Cusco, you'll cycle into the Sacred Valley of the Incas, hike the Huchuy Qosqo Trail, experience Machu Picchu and explore Pisac market. And that's just Peru! Afterward, take a short flight to Lima and then on to Quito, where you'll wander the colonial city unchanged from the colonial days.
From here, it's just a hop over to the Galapagos Islands. The next 6-days will be yours to snorkel next to Kicker Rock, cycle the San Cristobal highlands, hike Sierra Negra Volcano, sea kayak near Isabela Island and get up close to all manner of wild creatures and relax on isolated beaches. If you're only likely to visit this part of South America once in your life, we'll make sure our Ultimate Machu Picchu & Galapagos Islands Adventure is an adventure you'll never forget.
Sacsayhuamán Fortress
You’ll wander through massive stone walls and open landscapes at Sacsayhuamán, a place that gives you a real feel for the Inca’s incredible craftsmanship.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas
Hike through quiet trails and colorful villages in the Sacred Valley, where mountain views and friendly smiles greet you around every corner.
To Huchuy Qosqo
This off-the-beaten-path hike takes you to Huchuy Qosqo. It's a tucked-away spot with stunning views and a peaceful vibe that’s worth every step.
The Sacred Valley
Hop on a bike and enjoy a fun, relaxed ride through farms, fields, and local towns. It’s a great way to soak up the valley’s beauty and culture.
Machu Picchu
Seeing Machu Picchu in person is something you’ll never forget. You'll walk through the ruins, and feel the history all around you.
Cusco, Lima & Quito
Each city has its own charm. From Cusco’s lively streets to Lima’s food scene and Quito’s mix of old and new, you’ll get a great taste of life.
Ollantaytambo archaeology tour
Ollantaytambo is more than just a site, it’s a living town with ancient roots, and walking through its ruins gives you a real connection to the past.
Every day on your adventure promises incredible views, culture, fun-filled moments, and discovery.
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Our trip starts in Cusco, the heart of the Inca empire. After lunch, we’ll set off for a walk around this amazing ancient city and up to Sacsayhuamán fortress overlooking the main Plaza and Cusco Valley. The fortress is a magnificent archaeological site representing a set of jaguar’s teeth with massive, perfectly fitted stones weighing up to 130 tonnes each and was the place where the Incas made their final stand against the Spanish conquistadores. No one really knows what the Incas used Sacsayhuamán for – some say it was a sanctuary and temple of the sun, others say it was a granary, and yet another theory is that it was the place where the old Inca king would play football using the heads of his enemies! No matter who is right, you’ll have a lot of fun hearing all the stories this amazing area inspires.
Later, we’ll take a walk through the colorful Cusco street markets. If you prefer, you can take some time to soak in the vibrant atmosphere of Cusco’s lively town square and meet up again later for an evening meal.
Accommodation: Wyndham Costa del Sol, Cusco
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 1.2 miles (2 kilometers), 1-2 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 656 feet (200 meters) ascent, 656 feet (200 meters) descent
We’ll head into the fertile Sacred Valley of the Incas this morning, stopping just above Cusco, where we’ll jump on our bikes and ride down through breathtaking scenery, dotted with local villages and surrounded by the massive green slopes of the Andes. We’ll finish our ride in the small town of Pisac, where we’ll have a chance to check out the colorful mercado artesanal.
From here, we’ll begin a spectacular hike up to the Pisac ruins. It’s a heart-pumping walk up through ancient agricultural terraces – you’ll never forget the views of Pisac and the Urubamba Valley! After exploring the ancient complex, we’ll descend the original Inca stairways and head further into the Sacred Valley.
Our home for the night is the small village of Yucay, in the heart of the Peruvian Andes.
Accommodation: Sonesta Posada del Inka, Yucay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Biking: 12 miles (20 kilometers), 2-4 hours (flexible)
Hiking: 4.3 miles (7 kilometers), 2-4 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,476 feet (450 meters) ascent, 1,476 feet (450 meters) descent
We’ll set off early this morning and head to the remote market village of Chinchero. Said to be the birthplace of the rainbow, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time 500 years while we explore the cobbled alleyways and beautiful town square – still the main trading centre of the Incas from over half a century ago. From Chinchero, we’ll drive past the Piuray Lagoon and on to the Andean village of Tauca, where we’ll begin our hike to Huchuy Qosqo. The dramatic mountain views of the Urubamba range and deep valleys below are off the charts! As we make our way over the Pucajasa Mountain Pass, we’ll pass through high mountain meadows, lagoons and indigenous communities that have little contact with the outside world.
Shortly before lunch we’ll arrive at the spectacular ruins of Huchuy Qosqo (Little Cusco), thought to be the remnants of an Inca hideaway village.
After lunch, we’ll hike down to Lamay village and drive a short distance to Ollantaytambo, where we’ll take an unforgettable train ride down to the sub-tropical village of Aguas Calientes.
You’ll have a chance to wander around this colorful little town before dinner and relax after a full day of hiking!
Accommodation: Hatun Inti Boutique, Aguas Calientes
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 8.4 miles (13.5 kilometers), 5-7 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,900 feet (579 meters) ascent, 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) descent
After an early breakfast, we’ll head up to the ancient city of Machu Picchu, where we’ll meet our local guide who will show us around this fascinating ancient city. Afterward, you’ll have all morning to explore the many passageways and stone structures of this mysterious place on your own. We’ll also have the chance to hike to the Sun Gate for a unique perspective on these remote Inca ruins, set high on top of a mountain surrounded by lush peaks.
After plenty of time to explore Machu Picchu, we’ll take a scenic train ride back to Ollantaytambo, known to the locals simply as ‘Ollanta’.
Accommodation: El Arbergue Hotel or similar, Ollantaytambo
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 1-3 hours,
Elevation Gain/Loss: 656 feet (200 meters) ascent, 656 feet (200 meters) descent
Ollanta is dominated by two large ruins and is the best surviving example of Inca city planning, with narrow cobblestone streets that have been inhabited since the 13th Century! The Ollantaytambo ruins offer a fascinating insight into Inca archaeology, so we’ll spend the morning with a local guide discovering the site, placing our travels into context. Later, we’ll take an incredible hike into the majestic Valle Sagrado de Los Incas.
After a visit to the town of Maras, we’ll hike down to the salt pans of Las Salineras with the Rio Urubamba and the Sacred Valley below us. These unique salt terraces have been used since Inca times and provide a great opportunity to hone your camera skills.
A hot spring at the top of the valley discharges a small stream of heavily salt-laden water that the Incas diverted into shallow pools to produce salt, and this is still done today.
Accommodation: Wyndham Costa del Sol, Cusco
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hiking: 2.5 miles (4 kilometers), 1-3 hours
Elevation Gain/Loss: 656 feet (200 meters) ascent, 656 feet (200 meters) descent
Cusco is the archaeological capital of the Americas and it’s a fabulous place to wander around and get a taste for an ancient city arriving in the 21st century! Walk along Cusco’s central streets, lined with massive Inca-built stone walls that form the foundation of the city and blend into the colonial and modern architecture that has been added over the years. You can take some time this morning to explore Cusco’s most popular temples, museums, churches and fortresses. There’s no shortage of great food and entertainment in Cusco, with restaurants to suit any taste, cafés for coffee in the Plaza de Armas and great bars with local music.
Your trip finishes here and you're free to depart any time today.
Accommodation: Not applicable
Meals: Breakfast
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By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable. This offer is only valid for reservations where the trip is no sooner than 180 days from the departure date at time of booking.
We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. We recommend Redpoint Insurance - you can find details here.
*Terms and conditions apply - read more here.
Find answers to questions you may have about your epic adventure in Peru and the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador.
On the first morning of the trip, our two pick-up locations are Cusco airport (CUZ) (if your flight arrives by 11am) or Ramada Wyndham Costa del Sol at 12pm. You are welcome to book your pre-trip stay at this hotel directly or any other hotel in Cusco, though you must make your own way to one of the two pick-up points at the pre-designated times. Please come prepared with light clothing, an extra layer, trail shoes/or boots, and your daypack ready for your first hike.
Your trip ends in Cusco after breakfast. Please check out from the hotel by 10am, and the hotel will be able to store your luggage for the day if you decide to continue to explore.
Arrival: We recommend arriving in Cusco a couple of days before your trip begins to get accustomed to the 3,300 metres (10,000 feet) elevation. If this isn't possible that's okay - your trip is designed to begin very gently and ease you into being active at altitude! If you're flying in on the first day of the trip, we recommend arriving in Cusco by 10.30am.
Departure: Flying out on the last day of the trip, you can fly out at any time that suits.
We’ve chosen the places we stay for their location, cleanliness and charm – not the number of channels available on the television! Many of the places we stay are off-the-beaten track and set in amazing locations.
On the nights where we stay in Cusco we have chosen good lodgings, ideally situated close to the main attractions without being too central, in order to avoid the most touristy and noisy areas. It’s worth keeping in mind that Peru is a noisy place – people here have a festive way of looking at life and often enjoy beeping their horns and playing loud music! We have chosen the quietest areas practical in order for people to get the best sleep possible, and earplugs are recommended in this energetic and lively part of the world.
We recommend bringing enough clothing to only have to do laundry once during your trip and the best time will be in Cusco.
Our passion for exploration is rooted in a strong connection to the natural beauty of our home, New Zealand, and the drive to venture beyond its shores to discover a world different to our own.
We believe the best journeys don’t just take you places, they inspire you and ignite your spirit. Our unique and thoughtfully designed itineraries ensure you'll experience the very best of each destination.
Feel the heart and soul of each place you visit with our local people on the ground and knowledgeable guides, who take great care to ensure a truly authentic and immersive experience. This is the real deal.
We take the time to get to know you to ensure you have the very best experience on our trips. Our small group adventures are big on flexibility. No matter what your version of "active" is, we have options on each trip to suit every individual.
Traveling solo, as a pair, or as part of a group? No worries, you'll be comfortable on our trips. Every trip is personalized with care by our team so everyone feels supported and free to enjoy their unforgettable adventure.
Imagine a vacation that's fully guided, and everything is taken care of and included in the trip price — all accommodations, activities, transport on-trip, most meals, and more! Effortless and value-packed.
